Distance: 2.1 miles (one-way)
Degree of difficulty: Easy
Elevation Change: Gain, 101 feet; loss, 108 feet
Source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains – to – Sea Trail
Hike #20 through Hillsborough is another example of the positive impact that trails and greenways can have on a community. This collaboration combines parks, playgrounds, dog park, Eno River, farmer’s market, restaurants and a replica Native American village and even an historic speedway. This past Saturday was a comfortable Fall day, so it was no surprise to see many families out enjoying the trail. This portion of the MST is in Section 9.
The day hike starts at Gold Park, a popular area for families, with a dog park, playgrounds and pavilion. The path is a very easy stroll on a paved greenway beside the Eno.
Shortly after Gold Park, the Bee Pollinator is a must see. As soon as we approached the garden, the aroma of the flowers was overwhelming – in a good way.
There are many places to get on and off the river walk as it connects with various areas in Hillsborough and with adjacent businesses. At a mile into the walk, there is a path which leads to the local farmer’s market.
On the day that we were hiking, one of the more active areas was at the Occaneechie Village Replica site. This is located where the tribe actually had a site over 300 years ago. There were groups of all ages working in the area as we passed by.
The highlight of this hike is toward the end – the Occoneechee Speedway is just beyond the trail parking lot. This 1-mile dirt oval speedway is the only surviving track remaining from NASCAR’s inaugural season of 1949. It operated until 1968 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The dirt track is still accessible and is used quiet frequently by joggers, walkers and history buffs. There is much to explore here including the concrete bleachers and some ancillary buildings .
If you are looking for some savory cuisine after your hike, we really enjoyed El Restaurante Ixtapa. They have a relaxed outdoor area along with excellent food. The owners were friendly and it was a wonderful way to top off an enjoyable day.
Hillsborough Riverwalk is a another hidden gem within the MST. I encourage you to try it if you’re in the area.
Thank you once again for your very detailed description. Sounds lovely!